As one of those, who put for other hobbies Snowmobiling here is a few things to remember if you decide to ride.
Never ride alone period.
A GPS is needed even if its just a basic model.
A good map and compass is not an option even with a GPS you must have one.
Carry extra food, fuel, spare oil, spare spark plugs {at least 2 sets} and at least one belt, spare starter rope and tools, flash light with good batteries, an emergency blanket, 2-way radio, tow rope, shovel, water,spare warm clothes, 2 pair of spare gloves, a signal device and fire making equipment at the least for every rider. Also its a good idea to carry electrical tape, bailing wire, spare nuts and bolts, cotter pins, and wire ties.
AS I said this is the least you should carry and I may have missed something.
Alway stay in control and do not ride outside of your skill level.
If you plan to ride in areas that might have slides, then carry an emergency beacon and snow prod for every rider.
Let someone not riding know were the group plans to ride.
Keep the sled in good repair.
Ride only in approved areas.
Alway wear your helmet
Lean to side hill even if trail riding is all you plan to do. Learn from someone skilled at it or better yet take a riding course.
Alway go to the pace of the slowest rider in your group.
learn to signal other riders the amount of riders behind you when coming up on them on the trail.
Give all other trail users the right of way.
Do not approach wild life.
Remember that most snowmobiles weight 500 LBS or more and add snow to the inside of the track and its weight goes up even more. It takes at least 2 people to get it unstuck from deep snow or to turn it back over if you roll it. Also if it starts to roll over, you will not be able to stop it by getting in front of it. Get out of the way and let it take the damage and not you.
Alway be ready to help other snow users you come across that are in trouble. I have had to help in a few rescues myself. They may have cut into my day of riding, but I would not have felt good about the rest of the ride if I did not help out. At times it may have been as simple of a rescue on giving them some of my spare cotter pins other times its been a cliff rescue. I alway hope I will get help if needed and so far I have and so far the rescues on myself have been simple such as helping to get my sled back out of a sink hole in the snow. Its not a question on if you will ever get in trouble but just when. The main rescue you will end up helping with is digging out a stuck sled. I have lost count by far the amount of these I have helped with and the amount of times, I have been helped.
Also because I have come across many riders with broken down sleds who were sending someone for help because they could not figure out how to tow a broken down sled back to camp or base here is a little tip. You can not tow a sled with the motor still hooked up to the track. By removing the clutch belt the track becomes able to spin on its own without the drag of the engine allowing the sled to be pulled by another seld. In the last two years my riding group has had to help 3 other groups with this simple issue. Every member of the goup needs to learn to remove and replace the belt if needed for their make of sled. Besides after spark plugs the clutch belt is the most common item to go out.
These are just some of the things to think about before you ride. Before riding either learn from some one skilled in both riding and outdoor survival or better yet take a safe ridding course. Even if you learn to ride from someone else get a book from a local snowmobile club or the library on rider safety.
